It won’t be Rays ace Drew Rasmussen taking the mound in Game 1 of the World Series.

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash made the surprising decision to give the ball to Nick Martinez for Friday’s Fall Classic opener against the Brewers, opting to give Rasmussen an extra day of rest before his likely Game 2 start.

“He’s had a pretty thick workload here,” Cash said of Rasmussen’s playoff usage, according to ESPN. “We’ve relied on him heavily. We know when he takes the ball, we’re trying to get the full-pitch allotment out of him.”

Drew Rasmussen of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts to a double play during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. Getty Images

Martinez, who posted a 3.10 ERA across 180 innings in the regular season, held the Guardians to one run over 5⅓ innings in his last postseason outing. 

“It’s exciting,” Martinez said. “I think as a team, as a staff, we’re confident in whoever we call up to the mound. It fell on me, and my job is just to rack up as many outs as we can and keep us in this ballgame.”

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Martinez (28) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Friday, May 22, 2026, in the Bronx borough of New York. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Martinez, 36, came to Tampa Bay after signing a one-year, $13 million deal over the offseason and has enjoyed a career year in his first season as a full-time starting pitcher. 

He will start opposite Milwaukee flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski, who is a heavy favorite for the 2026 National League Cy Young award after leading the majors in both ERA (1.80) and strikeouts (252).

Rasmussen has tossed a team-high 21 innings this October, including seven innings of one-run ball in his most recent outing in Game 5 of the ALCS on Oct. 18, meaning he will have a full five days of rest if he does indeed take the mound in Game 2 on Saturday.

The move also allows Freddy Peralta, the likely Game 3 starter for the Rays, an extra day of rest.